Little by Little

Slowly but surely, our empty bonus room is being transformed into a play/homeschool space for myself and the boys.  Although there is so much I want to do, I'm reminded of what it looked like when we moved in November. . .

School space

Play space

And now. . .

Lookin' cute if you ask me :)  The shelving and desk are from Ikea with all other touches being pulled out of school storage bins that have been waiting patiently in our attic.  I told Michael he would one day appreciate my frugalness in keeping all of my first grade classroom goodies.  He debated, but has now agreed that the manipulatives, posters, charts, books, games, puzzles, and other items I saved are being put to GREAT use - and easy on the budget as well!  The only big item lacking is a table and chairs (in front of the bookcases) to use for schooling.  I have a small set situated in the reading nook that used to be mine (love), but that will eventually be Cade's area to play/color/etc. as we school.  Found a few things on GTP and our local Habitat Re-Store, but nothing that hit the spot.

A place to display art projects and other fun papers. . . I think I'm now addicted to corkboard :)

The READ art I recently made as a nap-time project while the boys slept.  Chipboard letters were 1/2 off at Hobby Lobby ($1 a piece) so I snatched up a few.  I thought about painting them, but then had the idea to use an extra Dr. Seuss One Fish, Two Fish book that we owned as the color instead.  Cole helped me cut the pages into pieces which we glued onto each letter in collage form.  I then sealed it with a coat of Modge Podge, hung, and voila!

The perfect place for displaying all of our themed/seasonal books for kindergarten.  We just filled them with all the back-to-school ones. . . Cole can't wait to read them all!

Cade's play area on the other side of the room.  Thinking of cutting the ABC chart into individual letters and hanging them on the wall as a banner.  Wouldn't that be so much cuter? :)

 This is how I find Cole most days.  He'd rather sit here and read a book or work on school pages than play.  Oh sweet boy how I LOVE you!

Hard to believe we'll begin schooling in a month. . . WOW!